Streaming vs ripped music

Using Qobuz, I find similar quality to local network streaming, playing from a thumb drive, or playing a CD.
I've not tried Amazon HD, as it has no way of connecting to my system. Last time I checked, Qobuz was not much more per month.

@fuzztone, 
what are your other streamers if you don’t mind me asking? 

You think?
Is it that close really?
It could be nothing then of course. Or something.


Make sure sure you are comparing the same release with both. Sometimes it’s not clear exactly which one a streaming service is providing. Or if even something completely different. So hard to say if it’s a fair comparison. If it always sounds better one way or the other or even most of the time then that might be an indicator one source is better than the other for some reason in your case.

@mofojo ,
I think your experience mimics the same rationale behind Sam Laufer's The Memory Player.
Bob

Kinda makes sense in my mind why the rip would be better.... I think. I mean 0s and 1s traveling through who knows how many miles (hundreds,thousands?)of noisy line vs a direct cd rip to a storage device. As I said noticeable especially in the highs and cymbals but not night and day. Sounds very good either way. Pretty sure the material I was playing only has one release. 

I do have a cheap ass router and cheap ass Ethernet cable as well so there’s that.